Feed-box.



J. M. HANNIBALL FEED BOX.

APPLICATION FILE-D DEG. 10, 1908.

920,865. Patented May 4, 1909.

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FEED BOX.

APPLICATION FILED 111:0. 10, 1908.

Patented May 4, 1909.

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Feed-Boxes, of which.

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FEED-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1909.

Application filed December 10, 1908. Serial No. 466,804.

To all whom it may concern: Z v

Be it known that I, JOHNZM. HANNIBAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State, of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the following is aspecification. I My present invention pertains to improve tion with feed-troughs, the construction and advantages of which will be hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the feedbox; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof; Fig. 3 a horizontal view, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a similar view, taken on theline 44 of Fig. 2 Fig. 5 a horizontal sectional view, takenon the line 55 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 a perspective view of a portion of the upper supporting member for the agitator bar.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient feed-box to be used in connection with a feed-trough and the like, whereby, the feed will pass gradually from the box to the trough, the passage of the material'from the box to the trough being effected through the movement of an agitator mounted in the box and the hopper or spout leading therefrom.

A further object of-the invention is to provide means whereby the hopper or spout box proper, so that the mouth of the spout may be turned and held in any desired direction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the mouth of the spout may be temporarily closed in case it be desired to transport the feed-box with the feed therein.

With these and other objects in view, a detail description of the invention will be given. j

The body 10 of the box will preferably be formed of sheet metal and cylindrical in form, said body being provided --,with a hinged cover or closure 11'at theupper'end, and being secured at its lower end to an upstanding rim or collar 12 formed upon a twopart base or bottom 13. The two sections of said base are alike in shape and when assembled and secured together form aninclined bottom 14 which terminates in a cenwith the trally-disposed opening 15. Each of the may be secured in vertical position, the

outer edges of the members 16 being inclined and beveled so asto coact and engage correspondingly formed walls of a supporting block or bracket 17, which latter may be secured adjacent to the trough into which the feed is to be discharged.

' The lower portion of the bottom or base of the box is provided with an inwardly-projecting collar 18, in which is formed a seat or recess 19, for the reception of the upper end of a laterally-extending spout 20. As will be seen upon reference to Fig. 5, the walls of said recess 19 are squared and coact with the correspondingly formed faces upon a flange 21 at the upper end of the spout. An enlarged recess or chamber 22 is formed at a point above the seat or recess 19, so that by lifting the spout vertically the flange 21 may pass into said enlarged chamber 22 and the spout thereupon turned to the desired angle and again lowered into the seat or recess 19, where it will be held by reason of the flat walls and faces contacting with each other. With this construction no adjusting screws or the like for holding the spout in position are required.

In order to effect the proper descent of the material or feed from the box through the spout and into the trough an agitator is em- .p oyed. In the form shown this comprises a fiat bar 23, which extends a considerable distance up into the box, through the spout, to a (point beyond the same where it is provide with a rounded knob or projection 24. The upper end of the bar which forms the agitator is bent at right angles, as at 25, Fig. 6, said end overlying a cross-bar 26, which bar is formed with or secured to a ringshaped member 27, which latter is bolted or otherwise secured in place within the body 10. The cross-bar is provided with a cruciform opening 28 through which bar 23 passes, the size of the bar and of the opening being such that the bar may be turned by a slight pressure when it is desired to adjust the spout to a different position, thebar, however, nor mally maintaining its position under ordinary usage.

To center the bar in the opening 15 and in the upper end of the spout, a pair of arms extend inwardly from the opposite sides of the bottom of the box, said arms being designated by 29 and 80, the abutting ends of the arms being so shaped as to form a cruciform opening 31 (see Fig. 4), similar to the opening 28.

In the construction shown the spout is slightly larger at its outer end than at the upper end; or in other wo 'ds, is made flaring toward the discharge end, which facilitates the passage of the feed therethrough. ir't'the outer endcf the hopper or spout is formed an exterior groove or channel 32, adapted to receive the upper portion of a bag or cloth which may be drawn over the rounded end 24 of thezag-itator and the mouth of the hopper, Where it may be secured by a string-or similar device. Suchclosure will be employed when it is desired to transport the box, with the feed therein, from one point to another.

In use the feed will be placed *eithin the box, preferably in :a measured quantity and will remain therein (except for a small portion, Whichwill pass dorrn through the op ening prior to the bridging or clogging of the feed in the box) until the animal moves the agitator by striking its nose against the rounded portion 24. The inoyement of the agitator will then loosen the material and permit a small quantity of the-same to flow down through the spout, or until the mate rial becomes again bridged or clogged. A further movement of the agitator will break the bridge thus formed, and the feed will be discharged insmall quantities from the box. Thus the animal is prevented from eating the feed too rapidly; or in other words, the consumption must be gradual.

in so far as the generic invention is concerned, it will be readily appreciated by those-skilled in the art that the device may be changed in form without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the body of the box may be cast and have a form other than circular in crosssection. Furthermore, the box,=instead of being formed in two parts, may be made in any desired :manner. So, too, the agitator may be supported in a manner different *from that shown.

Having ithusdescri bed my invention, what 1 claim is:

1. In a feedbox, the combinationof a box proper provided with adischarge opening at the lower end thereof; a spout adjustably secured to the d0W61 end of the box in line -with said opening and extending laterally therefrom, whereby the spout may be moved to cause the-same to discharge to one or the other side 'of the box; and an :agitator extending substantially throughout the length of the box, through the spout, and to a point slightly beyond the outer end thereof.

2. lna feed-boxthe combination of a box proper, the bottom of which is inclined toward a central discharge opening; -a collar formed around said opening; a spout provided \aith a flange adapted to be embraced by said collar and to be held tl'mreby in its adjusted relation \aith reference to the box; and an agitator mounted within the box, extending through the spout, and to a point slightly beyond. the outer end thereof.

3. In a feed-box, the combination of a box proper; a cross-inn secured in the box, said bar having a vertically-disposed opening formed therein; a pair of arms extending in wardly to; ard-eaeh other at the lower end of the box, the ends of the arms being notched;

a spout adjustably secured in the lower end of the box in hne with the opening formed therein; and an agitator comprising a flat bar barring a hooked end, said bar passing through the opening formed by the notches in the ends of the arms and through the opening in the cross-bar, the hooked end overlying the crossdnar :eing supported thereby, and the lower portion of the agitater bein curred to conform to the spout through which it passes.

a. In a feed-box, the combination of a box proper; a laterally-extending spout adjustably mounted upon the lower portion thereof; and an agitator suspended ithin the box and extending douurwardly and outwardly through the spout.

5. in a feedbox, the combination of a box proper provided with a dischargeopening at its 'lOTx-GI end; a spout adjustably securor to the lower end of the box in line with said opening and extending laterally thercfron'i; andan agitator extending through the lower portion of the box, through the spout, andto a point slightly beyond the outer end thereof.

6. Ina feed-box, the combination of a box proper the bottom of which is inclined toward :a central discharge opening; a collar formed around said opening; a spout provided with a flange adapted to iit within said collar; and an agitator mounted within the box, extending through the spout and to a point slightly beyond the free end thereof.

7. In afeedbox, the cmnbimrtion of a'box proper; a spout secured to the lower end thereof and extending laterally therefrom;

:an agitator suspended within the box, comprising a flat bar, the bar -being bent or curved to conform to the curvature of the spout through which it passes; and. a rounded knob secured to the outer projecting end of said agitator.

8. in a fee(l-box,1tl1e combination of a box proper; a laterally-extemling spout adjustably mounted upon the lower end thereof; and an agitator, comprising a llat bar, =e'xtending througlrthe lower portion ofithe "box anddownwardly and outwardlythrough the spout, the upperend of the bar being bent at rlght angles to the mam. bod-y thcreof;a sup porting cross bar provided with a cruciform opening therein through which the body of Sll) the agitator passes; and means for engaging the agitator at apoint between said cross ably mounted upon the lower end thereof and in line with an opening formed in said end; an agitator extending through the lower portion of the box downwardly and outwardly through the spout, said agitator comprising a flat bar having a rounded member at its outer end, the inner or upper end of said agitator being bent at right angles to the main portion thereof; a cross-bar secured to the body of the box, said bar being provided with a cruciform opening through which a portion of the body of the agitator extends, the bent end of the agitator resting upon the upper face of said cross-bar; and means extending inwardly from the lower portion of the box and coacting with the agitator to position the same with reference to the opening formed in the lower end of the box and the spout.

10. In a feed-box, the combination of a box'proper having an opening in the lower end thereof and provided with a seat having 2 straight walls located below said opening; and a spout provided with a flange the sides of which are flat and adapted, when the flange is in position within the seat, to contact with the similarly-formed walls of the TGCGSS.

11, Ina feed-box, the combination of a body portion; a bottom formed of two parts adapted to be secured to each other and to a the body, said parts, when assembled, producing a cruciform opening and being likewise formed with a seat below said opening, the vertically-disposed walls of which are flat, and said portions being likewise formed so as to produce an enlarged chamber above said seat; and a spout provided with an outwardly-extending flange at its upper end, the edges of said'flange being flat and adapted when the flange is placed within the seat, to contact with the similar faces thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN M. HANNIBAL.

l/Vitnesses:

LoUIs NoLTE, F. C. HoUsLEY. 

